Engine starter



April 8, 1930. R. BERTSCHE, JR

ENGINE STARTER Filed Nov. 15, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l April 8, 1930. R. BERTSCHE, JR 1,753,591

ENGINE STARTER Fi led Nov. 15, 1928 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,ao J 55 April 8, 1930. R: BERTSCHE, JR

ENGINE STARTER Filed Nov. 15, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 8, 1930 [TED LISTATES FPA T EN -T F'FOFFILGE RALPH BEBTSCHE, "OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR To DELGO-REMY eon-4 ronn'rronyon DAYTON, onro. A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE ENGINE STARTER a lication filed November 15,'-192s.*seria1 No." 319,697.

This invention relates to starting apparatus fo-r interna l combustion engines. and particularly to the type of apparatus which oomprises an electric motor, a pinion driven therey and manually-operable means for moving the pinion into mesh wit h the engine gear and then closing a switch for causing the motor to operate.

H J; i)

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide improved means for substantially fully engaging the motor pinion and the engine gear prior to closing the motor switch in order to eliminate breakage of gear teeth'which has been found to occur owing tofailure to move the motor gear into substantial engagement-with the engine gear before the motor is operated.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the fol lowing description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown.

' In the drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary View partly n longitudinal section, showing an embodiment of the present inventiomthe various-parts being in normal position. I g 1 Fig.2 is a sectional View on the line 22 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the hne 3 3 f Fig.- a

' 4 is a diagrammatic, fragmentary, side View of the apparatus just after the motor pinion has been registered for meshing with the engine gear but just prior to movement of the motor pinion into mesh.

Fin. 5 is a sectional'view on the line 55 ofFig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4;, showing the pilot portion of the motor pinion in engagement with the engine gear.

Fig. 7 is a plan View of a sheet metal blank ,5; used to form a member of the mechanism which connects the foot pedal with the motor pinion.

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 4, showing the condition of the apparatus While cranking the engine.

Fig. .9 is a'sectional View on' the line "9- 19 "Fig. 1t) is a yiewsimilar to Fi g. 4 butsh'o wlug-the motor pinion disconnected fromthe engine but the pedal operated le verstil'l in position dor closing the motor switch.

"Referring to the drawings, the electric motorcomprises afield frame 20 whichis'secured to gear housing or frame 21 adapted tobe attached toth'e fiywheel gear housing of the engineto be started. The engine is not shown but is represented as having afiywheel gear 22 with which apinion' driven by the motor-is adapted to engage for? purposes of cranking :the engine. Thispinioncomprises a pilot portion '23 and a main driying portion 24. These portions are connected -to'gether in such away thatthere may be a'hmited amount of longitudinal movement 'be-tw'een them and also so that'their teeth are always' in alignment. .7 This connectionis providedfby longitndinal splines 2501i the hub 260f the *pilot pinion 23', which splines "engage with similar splines?! and are-providedinternally of the "driving pinion Qt. The pilot pinion 23 is norma y maintained in spaced relation to"'the' driving pinion 2 1 and in advance of the driving' p 'nlon witli respect to the flywheel gear '22 by a spring 28 i which presses at one 'end against the hub 26 of the pilot pinion '23 and at the other "end against the hnb'29of the driv- 1115;13131011 24. The's'pring 281s normally compressed to c'ertain degree, and separation of the pinion23 from'ithe-pinion Qlislimitdby "a wire split ring 30 ,received by a suitable an- 'nul'ar groove in' the hub 26 of the pinion 23 and so located as to 'engagewith an annular shoulder l provided internally of the pinion This'sha ft iss'nppo'rted atits ends by bearings, one'of 'wh'ichis shown at 86 and is attached to 'the trame -fil. =The pilot pinion hub26 numeral 36 as shown in Figs. 2 and '3. It

is therefore apparent that the shoulder portions 36 provide obstructions which tend to prevent accidental movement of the motor pinion into engagement with the engine gear especially while the engine is running or the vehicle vibrating while not preventing the connection of the motor pinion with the engine gear by pedal operation. As shown particularly in Fig. 2, the hub 29 of the driving pinion 24 is provided with a mass 37 which is not symmetrically arranged with respect to the shaft- The purpose of this mass is to assistin preventing rebound of the motor pinion from normal position into engagement with the engine gear after it has been demeshed from the engine gear and before the motor shaft ceases turning. It is apparent that since the hub 29 is non-sym= metrically weighted that it will, while rotating, tend to crowd its lighter side against the shaft spline portions 36 with a pressure a which corresponds to the unbalanced centrifugal forces acting upon the material comprising the pinion hub 29. Therefore, although there may be a tendency for the motor pinion to rebound into mesh with the engine gear while the shaft is rotating, this tendency is overcome due to the fact that the unbalanced centrifugal forces acting upon the pinion hub 29 tend tol'ock the latter bethe positionshown in Fig.1 by a spring 60 tween the interrupted spline shoulders 36 and 36.

The pedal operated mechanism for moving the motor pinion portions 23 and 24 into mesh with the engine gear comprises a pedal operated'lever 40 and a pusher sleeve 41 attached to a pusher sleeve hub 42 which is slidable along the shaft 35 and is adapted to engage one end of the pinion hub 29 as shown particularly in Fig. 3. The pedal lever 40, which is operated by a" pedal rod 43 and which is pivoted upon a bolt 44 attached to the frame 21, is connectable with the pusher sleeve 41 by means which may be disconnected from the pushersleeve automatically before the engine becomes self-operative. The means which connects the pedal lever with the pusher sleeve comprises a stud 45 attached to the lower endof the lever 40 and projecting into a somewhat triangular shaped opening 46 provided in the sleeve 41. This opening 46 is so shaped that the pusher sleeve These spline 41 will be provided with an edge surface 47 which is located in a plane making preferably a small angle with a plane which is transverse to the axis of the motor shaft as shown particularly in Fig. 7 which shows the sheet metal blank 41*" which is formed into a cylinder to provide the sleeve 41. The opening 46 is shaped also so as to provide a recess 48 which normally receives the stud 45 and to provide an edge surface 49- adapted to cammingly engage the stud 45 for a purpose to be described later.

For a purpose to be described, it is desirable to have the pusher sleeve 41 frictionally connected with the pinion tube 32. This is accomplished byproviding the pusher sleeve 41 with aspring pressed plunger50 slidable within a tubular guide 51 attached to the sleeve-41 and urged by a spring 52 toward the pinion tube portion 32. Normally, as shown in Fig. 3, the plunger 50 extends into a shallow annular groove 53 provided by the pinion 24 but does not bottom in the groove since it is held spaced from the bottom of the groove due to the fact that a flange 54 on the plunger 50 engages the outer end of the guide 51. When, during the operation of the mechanism to mesh the motor pinion with the engine gear, the driving pinion member 24 is withdrawn from the pusher sleeve 41 as shown in Fig. 8, the plunger 50 will frictionally engage the tubular portion 32 of the pinion 24 in order to frictionally connect the pusher sleeve 41 therewith. This frictional connection is due to the engagement of the inner end of the plunger 50 with thetubular portion 32 and also due to the fact that the spring 52 tends to increase the friction between the tubular portion 32 and an arcuate insert 55 which is attached to the sleeve 41 and which partly encircles the tubular-portion 32 as shown in Fig. 2.

' The pedal lever 40 is normally retained in received in a tubular recess 61 provided by the frame 21 and urging a plunger 62 against the lever 40 so as to tend to move it clockwise. This spring also tends to apply braking action to the armature shaft 35 due to the fact that it tends to urge the hub 42 of the pusher sleeve 41 toward the left as view-ed in Fig. 1

- to the shaft 35. It is therefore apparent that the spring when released will urge the brake plate 63 against the brake disc 66 and the latter against the brake disc 67. In this way the motor shaft 35 is quickly stopped after a starting operation has been performed. It is desirable to stop the motor shaft quickly in order that the startingoperation. .imaybe i qui y repea ed; i as ef a fals star the hub 29 0f the driving pinion 24. Qon

tinuing the notion of the pedal 13 down-Ar wardly, the pilot pinion 23 willbe moved dition of the apparatus just at tlie inst antv Qp re im To start the engine, the pedal .43 is pressed downwardly in order to cause =th2l6YQT 4:0-

to move counterclockwise so that ,thestud 5L5 will enga 'etheed e surface 47 ofthe usher .1 k) D A v r sleeve 41 so that the pusher sleeve will move toward the right, thereby n ovingithe pusher sleeve hub 42 against theleft'handend of into engagement with the engine gear {teeth 22, as shown in Fig. fl. In case gear tooth abutment occurs preventing further movement of the pilot pinion23 intomesh with the engine gear 22, by continuing the pedal e3 downwardly thedriving pinion 2 liwillbe caused to move spirally along the shaft 35 .due to the fact that its hub 29 is drivingly connected with theshaiit splines36. While the driving pinion member 24clis thus spirally moving the pilot 23 will be rotated so as to move into meshing registration with the engine gear 22. Figs. 4 and 5 show the conprior to registering the pilot pinion 23 with the engine. gearfteeth 22. A fter-cthe .pilot pinion 23 has been registered ,iorineshing with the engine gear teeth 22,Ithe' pilot pinion -will be quickly moved into mesh withth'e engine gear'22- due to the factthatthe spring 28, which has been compressed beyond its initial state as shown lnFig. 5, has been released-in order quickly"tofniove the pilot pinion 23 from the-position shown in Fig.5 3 to that shown in 'F ig. '6.;Tlm ,the' pilot pinion is fully nieshedlwith the engine gear before the motor switch isclosled. ffThe pilot -pinion doesnot niove anyI further-toward the right as shown in Fig. 6-due to the fact motor will operate to turn the shafti35 iin a clockwise direction as viewed looking in the direction of the arrow 83 or asviewed from theright in Fig. 8. This operation of-the shaft 35 will cause the driving-pinion .Zdto

be advanced into mesh with the engine gear as shown in FigsIS and 9. Since the pilot pinion 23has been meshed with the engine gear before the driving pinion 2% is ,rneshed therewith, the driving pinion will be located in meshing registration with the engine gear so that there will be no difficulty in moving 1* the maindriving pinion into mesh withfthe eng egeartheidriyingipinionanemher .24 is advaliqedii i or full mesh nosi ion, the spring i28wi1 l again he c mp-resisedrbeyond i i i i l s te 'andwill tend to resist mer lnentjof the lpiniona24; into engagement with the pinion 23:and thereby tendlto lessen the shock of such (engagement. i

' After the pinion 24-has heemmovedzinto neshwith the engine gear -22 against the pilot pinion23, continuing the rotation Oilhe h 23 wi l-. use the p nion m mb 23 ,and-24 to rotate-with the-shaft and :to crank-theengine through-the gear 22. While the engine is being cranked. the end thrust d e to ,th spi a sp in ice ne oni is tr mittedirom the pinions to the through the snap ringandjtrom theshaftf to a thrust washer adapted to :bear} against; a

a,chined surface 86 provided by the :frame' 21. v Duri g h nk g nera.t n, t e-12in o tube 32 will be Withdrawn fromjchepilsher sleeve 41 so that the plungenfiO willxbeeome operative to assist in frictionally connecting the pusher slee've with-gthe rotatingishaft 35 due to. the frictional c nnecti0n between the sleeveand the pinion 2d alrea dy aegrplained. WVhen thistakes place, the" sleeve 41 willbe' dragged by the shaft ina,cloclrwisegdireotion as viewed from v the right in. Fig. 8 and. i will retract thefnotch portion- 48 of the opening 516 fron 'zthe lever stud {l5 and cause the trim ming edge surface {t9 t0 engagelthest idi fi thereby causing the sleeve ,41 to rnove; [from the position shown in Fig. 6 to-thepositiom shown in Fig; 8. Y Therefore lbeforeithe engine becomes I'selfeoperative, the pusher sleeve hub have been inovedlback toznorinal position so as notlto hinder autoniatiodeme'shing .o fthe motor pinion front the engine gear when the engine starts. After thestarting operation, the operator :may'release ,thepedalflig to perrnit the spring v 60 to return/$ 16 partslto normalipofsition as shown inj liig'. l and to apply theibraket.to the the spring'fiO is permitted to expand it will movethe'leyer stud. 5 toward ,the left to. cause it 7 to;enga-ge the oblique, edge surfacetl) and thereb iscause the pusher sleeve 41 to be rotated tfroinithe q posit on 1 shown! in Fig. 10 tO- the position shown 1. I thelever l0retur rrsjto .ncrma p e t i t es pret ens st d 80 will be retracted from the plnng'ei? 81 so asto permit a springB'Z to, 'rtilrntheoperv. tins' p unge il o switch open "positi n.

While f fOrin ofeiribodimentof the vpresent nvent on as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, itis to beunderstgod that other fornis rnight beadopted; all coming wi h n the scppof e s s-which owfiwh t lei sd s' te lers: i

Engine Starting pp atusmmprisius,

1 pmb na q ya d 29 .9 1 mevahl end- Wi e i t m sh with: a g e- :sze nested--wit the engine to be started, a pilot pinion adapted to mesh with the engine gear, manually operable means for causing the pilot pinion first to mesh with the engine gear and then the drive pinion, and a connection between the pilot pinion and drive pinion such that the drive p1n1on Wlll be guided into mesh w th the engine gear.

2. En ine startin a aratus com arising D t: n7

in combination, a drive pinion movable endwise into mesh with a gear connected with the engine to be started, a pilot pinion adapted to mesh with the engine gears, means normally maintaining the pilot pinion in advance of the drive pinion relative to the engine gear, manually operable means for turning the pilot pinion and for moving the pinions endwise, and connections between the pinions permitting relative endwise movement but causingthe pinions to turn together.

4. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a drive pinion movable endwise into mesh with a gear connected with the engine to be started,a pilot pinion adapted to mesh with the engine gear, manually operable means for applying yielding pressure to the pilot pinion to urge the same toward the engine gear and for-turning the pilot pinion into meshing registration with the engine gear, and a connection between the pilot pinion and drive pinion such that the drive pinion will be guided into mesh with the engine gear.

5. Engine starting apparatuscomprismg, in combination, a drive pinion movable endwise into mesh with a gear connected with the engine to be started, a pilot pinion adapted to mesh with the engine gear, manually operable means for applying yielding pres sure to the pilot pinion to urge the same toward the engine gear and for causing the drive pinion torotate whilebeing advanced toward the engine. gear, and means so connecting the drive pinion and pilot pinion that rotation is imparted to the pilot pinion while the drive pinion is advancing toward the engine gear in order that the pilot pinion will be turned into meshing registrationwith the engine gear.

6. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a drive p1n1on movable endwise into mesh with a gear connected with the engineto be started, a pilot pinion adapted to mesh with the engine gear, means yieldingly maintaining the pilot pinion in advance of the drive pinion relative to the engine gear, manually operable means tor turning the pilot pinion and for moving the pinions endwise, and 'connections'between the pinions permitting relative endwise movement but causing the pinions to turn together. 7. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a drive pinion movable endwise into mesh with a gear connected with the engine to be started, a pilot pinion adapted to mesh with the engine gear, a yielding member for transmitting endwise movement from the drive pinion to the pilot pinion and normally maintaining the pilot pinion in advance of the drive pinion relative to the engine gear, manually operable means for turning the pilot pinion and for advancing the drive pinion toward the engine gear, and connections between the pinions permitting relative endwise movement but causing the pinions to turn together. I

8. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a drive pinion movable endwise into mesh with a gear connected with the engine to be started, a pilot pinion adapted to mesh with the engine gear, a spring located between the pinions for transmitting endwise movement from the drive pinion to the pilot pinion and normally maintaining the pilot pinion in advance of the drive pinion relative to the engine gear, manually operable means for turning the pilot pinion and for advancing the drive pinion toward the engine gear, and connections between the pinions permitting relative endwise movement but causing the pinions to turn together.

9. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a drive pinion movable endwise into mesh with a gear connected with the engine to be started, a pilot pinion adapted to mesh with the engine gear, a spring located between the pinions for transmitting endwise movement from the drive pinion to the pilot pinion and normally maintaining the pilot pinion in advance ofthe drive pinion relative to the engine gear, manually operable means for causing the drive pinion to rotate while being advanced toward the engine gear, and means so connecting the drive pinion and pilot pinion that rotation is imparted to the pilot pinion while the drive pinion is advancing toward the engine gear in order that the pilot pinion will be turned into meshing registration with the engine gear.

10. Engine starting apparatus comprising, a drive shaft, a drive pinion and a pilotpinion mounted to slide along the shaft into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started, connectionsbetween the pinions permitting relatively longitudinal movement and causmast-1 ing the pinions to rotate together, a spring normallymaintaining the pilot pinion in ad-.

Vance of the drive pinion, and manually operable means for moving the pinio'nstoward the engine gear and for causing the pilot pinion to turn into meshing registration with the engine gear.

11. Engine starting apparatus comprising, a drive shaft, a drive pinion and a pilot pine ion mounted to slide along the shaft into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started, connections between the pinions permit-ting relatively longitudinal movement and causing the pinions to rotate together, a spring normally maintaining the pilot pinion in advance of the drive pinion, connections between the shaft and drive pinion such that longitudinal movement of the drivepinion along the shaft is accompanied by rotary movement of the drive pinion, and manually operable means for moving the drive pinion along the shaft.

12. Engine starting apparatus comprising, a drive shaft, a drive pinion and a pilot pinion mounted to slide along the shaft into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started, connections between the pinions permitting relatively longitudinal movement and causing the pinions to rotate together, a spring surrounding the shaft and located between the pinions and normally maintaining them in spaced relation and manually operable means for moving the pinions toward the engine gear and for causing the pilot pinion to turn into meshing registration with the engine gear.

13. Engine starting apparatus comprising a drive shaft, a drive pinion and a pilot pinion mounted to slide along the shaft into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started, connections between the pinions permitting relatively longitudinal movement and causing th e pinions to rotate together, a spring surrounding the shaft and located between the pinions and normally maintaining them in spaced relation, connections between the shaft and drive pinion such that longitudinal movement of the drive pinion along the shaft is accompanied by rotary movement of the drive pinion, and manually operable means for moving the drive pinion along; the shaft.

14. Engine starting apparatus comprising a motor, means for connecting the motor with the gear of an engine to'be startedand including a drive pinion movable axially into mesh with the gear of an engine to be started and provisions whereby the drive pinion will 7 be automatically demeshed when the engine starts; a pilot pinion located between the drive pinion and engine gear; manually operable means for causing the pilot pinion first to mesh with the engine gear and then the drive pinion, and a connection between the pilot pinion and drive pinion such that thedrive pinion will be guided into'mesh with the engine gear.

15..:Eiigiiie starting apparatus comprising a motonmeansfor connecting the'motor with" the gearof a'ii engine to be started." and in eluding a dr and provisioiisRvheifeby the drive pinion will be automatically demeshed when the engine V I I H pinion movable axially into" mesh witlirthe gear of an engine to be started starts'; a. pi'lotfpinion located between the drive pinion'andengine gear; manually op ei'able",means for causing the drive pin-ion to rotatewhile being advanced toward the .engme gear,and means soconnecting the drive pinion andpilot pinion that rotation is imparted to the pilot pinions while the drive pinion is advancing toward the engine gear in order that the pilot pinionlwill'be turned into 7 meshing registration with the engine gear.

16." Engine starting apparatus comprising a motor, means -'for-connect1ng the motor with the gear of anengine to be started and 'inf elud ng a drive pinion movable axially into mesh withthe gear of an enginet'o befstart'ed andprovisions whereby the drivepinion will be automatically demeshed when the engine" starts; a pilot'pinion located between the drive pinion and engine gear; manually operable means for applying yielding pressure tothe pilot pinion to urge the same toward the engine gear and for turning the pilot pinion .into meshing registration with the engine gear, and a connection between the pilot pinion and drive pinion such that the drive pinion will be guided into mesh with the engine gear.

17. Engine starting apparatus comprising a motor, means for connecting the motor with the gear of an engine to be started and including a drive pinion movable axially into mesh with the gear ofan engine to be started and provisions whereby the drive pinion will be automatically demeshed when the engine starts; a pilot pinion located between the drive pinion and engine gear; a yielding member for .transmitting'endwise movement from the drive pinion to the pilot pinion and normally maintaining the pilot pinion in advance of. the drive pinion relative to the engine gear, manually operable means for turning the pilot pinion and for advancing the drive pinion toward the engine gear, and connections between the pinions permitting relative endwise movement but causing the pinions to turn together.

18. Engine starting apparatus comprising a motor, means for connecting the motor with the gear of an engine to be started and including a drive pinion movable axially into mesh with the gear of an engine to be started and provisions whereby the drive pinion will be automatically demeshed when the engine starts; a pilot pinion located between the drive pinion and engine gear; a spring located between the pinions for transmitting endwise movement from the drive pinion to the pilot pinion and normafly maintaining lit) the pilot pinion in advance of the drive pinion relative to the engine gear, manually operable means for causing the drive pinion to rotate while being advanced toward the en gine gear, and means so connecting the drive pinion and pilot pinion that'rotation is imparted to the pilot pinion while the drive pinion is advancing toward the engine gear in order that the pilot pinion will be turned into meshing registration with the engine gear.

19. Engine starting apparatus comprising a motor, a shaft driven thereby and having helical splines; a drive pinion connected with said splines and movable endwise along the shaft into mesh with a gear of an engine to be started; a pilot pinion movableflalong the I shaft in advance of the drive pinion; longitudinal spline connectionsbetween.the pmions; a spring for mamtaining the pinions separated; and manually operable means for moving the pinions toward the engine gear and for rotating them to facilitate meshing.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my sig-,

nature.

- RALPH BERTSCHE, JR. 

